Kerala tunnel project landslide kills 3, ministers call it 'man-made' disaster

Rescue ops underway after a landslide at Kalladi in Wayanad on Tuesday. PIC/PTI

At least three people were killed, 10 injured, and five remained missing after a rain-soaked mound of excavated earth gave way at the site of a multi-crore tunnel project in Meppadi panchayat in this hill district.

According to officials, the landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work on a tunnel road project connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad districts was under way. The incident occurred between 11 am and 11.30 am.

A video clip showed the mound of mud, which had accumulated near Meenakshi Bridge, suddenly collapsing in the rain, bringing down trees and sweeping away the metal and cloth barricades set up near the tunnel construction site.

Officials said those living in nearby areas were being evacuated. Police on Tuesday registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. The FIR stated that earth from the upper portion of the tunnel slope collapsed, triggering the landslide.

Meanwhile, Kerala ministers Ramesh Chennithala and T Siddique on Tuesday said the incident at the Kalladi tunnel project site was not a natural landslide but a "man-made" one caused by the "unscientific dumping" of excavated earth.

"The government will examine why this happened and why the earlier directions were not followed," Siddique said.

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